En v ir o n m e n t A g e n c y

A HISTORY OF THE BY BROOK

By Ken Tatem INTRODUCTION

The By Brook is a tributary of the Bristol Avon River, situated roughly in the centre of that river's catchment.

In recent geological history, the By Brook was the headwaters of the Avon; drainage to the south, east and north of its catchment being to the headwaters of the River Thames.

Q J COMMUNITIES 0 MILLS — BROOKS o CATCHMENT

Then, a major shift along a fault line Left: The By Brook valley below Slaughterford captured these Below: The By Brook upstream of Widdenham Mill waters for the River Avon,the sudden increase in water-cut gorges through what is now Bristol and Bath exposing deep springs, including Bath's hot springs. This also caused the By Brook to run deeper and steeper, creating the beautiful valley it now runs through, and leaving it as a minor tributary of the larger river.

Front Cover Photos: Top left: The marshy bank of the By Brook ot Bathford Middle: The weir at the site of Wick Mill on the Broadmead Brook Bottom left: The derelict mill wheel at Slaughterford Rag Mill TRIBUTARIES AND GEOLOGY

The northern part of the 100 km2 By Brook South from Slaughterford, the Brook cuts catchment is dominated by the gently north through the Great Oolite Limestone, and east sloping Great Oolite Limestone plateau further south, the underlying Fullers Earth within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding and Inferior Oolite Limestone to expose the Natural Beauty. Midford sands. The steepness of the exposed valley outcrops mean that landslips are The By Brook itself starts from the confluence common. of its two tributaries, the Burton Brook and the Broadmead Brook at Castle At Ford, the Brook is joined from Hill, above Castle Combe. the west by the Doncombe Brook whose source is These two tributaries just south of cut through Forest Marshfield. The By Marble Clays Brook for most of overlying the its length is a limestone. The model for an source of the ideal river, rich in southern varied habitats, tributary, the meandering, Broadmead Brook, creating pools and is at Pennsylvania to riffles, eroding banks the east of the A46; for wildlife, and with a smaller branch supporting a great variety rising at West Littleton and of species. Some lengths joining at Shire Hill. The source of have remained untouched for 70 the northern tributary is just south of the M4 years or more. Despite its input of M4 runoff junction at Tormarton, which takes a great in the Burton Brook, the water quality on the deal of run off from the motorway since its whole length of the By Brook is 1 A. construction in the early 70's.

Above: The source of the Broadmead Brook at Pennsylvania Below: Footbridge crossing the By Brook below Castle Hill at Castle Combe

3 WATER MILLS OF THE BY BROOK

The steepness of the river, dropping 200m in 25 km from its highest point to its confluence with the River Avon, has encouraged man to use the power of the Brook for milling since at least Roman times.

There is evidence of at least 20 mill sites down the Brook, and the valley's history is very much the history of these mills.

In Roman times the mills were exclusively used for grinding corn, but by the end of the 12th Century, this corner of Wiltshire became an important centre for the growing wool trade. Mills were converted to the cleansing and thickening of wool by a process known as fulling.

With the decline of the woollen industry in the 1 600's, accelerated by Civil War and plague, many mills returned to grinding grain, and fulling finally ceased when steam power shifted clothmaking to the north in the Industrial Revolution, h _

The rise in demand for paper for packaging from nearby Bristol led to many mills in the 18th and 19th centuries converting to paper making. Although some of these reverted back to local corn grinding, paper producing was a feature of the By Brook valley well into the 20th century.

The existence of so many mills on such a small brook caused many inter-neighbour disputes about water level management and use of resources; some of these resurface today.

GLOSSARY

Fulling - Beating of wool with Fullers' Earth to interlock the fibres Gig - Winding skein to wool Grist - Grinding grain - mills variously referred to as corn, flour or grist Nap - Producing the soft furry surface Main photo: Upper Long Dean Mill Top: Catcombe Mill of cloth Middle: The old mill leat at West Kington Mill THE MILLS 5.WICK MILL aka Longs or Langs Mill and Hennars Mill 1.COULTERS MILL aka Littleton Mill (1773) Derelict by 1887. In 1704, three mills in the Mentioned in the Domesday Book. Corn Mill parish of North Wraxall paid tythes - dating from Saxon times. Seasonal only due Doncombe Mill 4s, Ford Mill 3s 4d and to insufficient water during drier months. Hennars Mill 4s. A cloth mill in 1802, by 1829 it became a grist mill. 2.CATCOMBE MILL aka Cadcombe Mill Of greater significance than Coulters Mill, 6.NETTLETON MILL Catcombe was known to be a corn mill in Part of the Castle Combe estate, the buildings 1887, and continued in use until date from the 18th century. A grist the 1920’s. There is no ------mill, its undershot wheel was evidence of use other replaced by a turbine than to grind corn, but during the 19th century. the proximity to Milling ceased at the Castle Combe raises outbreak of the First the possibility of World War. In the 50's earlier cloth and 60's, the turbine industry, unless power was used for water was wood cutting. There is insufficient. evidence that steam power was utilised at 3.TANNERS MILL aka some time, probably when Old Mill (1887) stream flow was inadequate. Existence shown on 1773 map, now incorporated in the buildings of Lower 7. CASTLE COMBE MILL Shirehill Farm. Due to inadequacy of water Stepping stone weir and sluice are all that supply, this must have been a seasonal corn remain in the gardens of the Manor House m B .______Hotel.

4.WEST KINGTON MILL 8.UPPER COLHAM MILL Size and age seem to be similar to Gatcombe A barn on the old mill site is reported to have Mill. In 1887 it was a corn mill which also been a weaving shed. A turbine was in use in housed a shoemaker and a butcher's shop. the 20th century for a sawmill on the opposite bank from the mill.

Above: Nettleton Mill Below: The weir at the site of Castle Combe Mill

5 9.LOWER COLHAM MILL Declined in importance with the demise of the wool trade. Racks of cloth would have been taken across the bank from both Colham Mills to dry on the significantly named Rack Hill, now a nature reserve.

10.UPPER LONG DEAN MILL Reported to have been a blanket mill prior to the First World War, this was a flour mill, then 12.FORD MILL changed to a grist until it ceased operation in In 1725, the mill was a fulling mill, gig mill 1956. Its undershot wheel is still in place and and grist mill; with racks, a furnace, presses the rooms inside its mansard roof show and workhouses. In 1778, when it was evidence of the weavers who used to work rebuilt, it was a grist mill. By 1 7 84, it was there. large enough for a paper mill to be added.

11.LOWER LONG DEAN MILL 13.DONCOMBE MILL Built as a paper mill by Bristol merchant, Paying a tythe of 4s in 1704, the Thomas Wilde (or Wyld) in 1635, this mill was probably a fulling mill produced brown paper for packaging Bristol's by then, and earlier could produce. Paper was still being manufactured have been a corn mill. In when the mill is mentioned in 1746 and 1 778, with the local 1860, but by 1887 an OS map lists it as a industry in decline, corn mill. The track along the valley from owner Benjamin Long Dean to the A420 has two strong Edwards, bridges and paved sections, which suggest it overstretched was the common route for transporting the himself by building paper to the Bristol Road. The mill was six new tenements destroyed by fire in the 19th century caused, (still existing as the as local legend would have it, by a boiler stable block, exploding, hurling its tenderer, a young lad, Doncombe Mill across the brook into Chapel Wood. The well Cottage) adjoining for the water wheel remains, as does the his fulling and gig remainder of a hatchway in what was the mill. He became passageway underneath the drying house. bankrupt and, in 1793, Through this hatchway, the local doctor from Charles Ward was the Castle Combe dispenced medicine to his Long owner and soon the Dean patients in the second half of the 19th partnership of Cottle & Ward century. were making paper. In 1847, the Straddling the millstream downstream from mill became a corn mill. the mill is a unique stone built privy with seating for two adults and one child at once. The water in Doncombe Brook is less reliable than the By Brook, and the mill needed a reservoir covering two thirds of an acre to regulate the supply. This survives as a pond behind the mill house.

14.RAG MILL, SLAUGHTERFORD aka Overshot Mill A mill leat, now filled in, ran over three- quarters of a kilometer from the sluices just downstream of the Doncombe Brook confluence to an overshot wheel in a fulling mill on this site. In the 1890's, rag processing

Top: Looking upstream to Doncombe Mill at Ford Middle: Derelict Undershot Wheel at Slaughterford Rag Mill Left: Ford Mill House machinery was installed at the mill, and the fulling until 1767, during which it was also a undershot wheel which can still be seen on nap mill and had its own shearshop. In 1 770 the derelict site dates from that time, being it was also dyeing its own cloth. Between served by a much shorter leat from the next 1817 and 1866, the mill produced paper - sluice upstream from the mill. brown, blue and sugar.

Also clearly identifiable on the site is the 18.DREWETTS MILL remains of a rag boiler. The mill, demolished In working order as recently as 1990, the mill in 1964, processed rags into individual fibres originally operated an overshot wheel driving or 'stuff' which was transported in vats of elm three grindstones. In mounted on bogies across the bridge to recent times, power to Chapps Mill for paper making. two stones and a saw has been through a The water wheel power was supplemented by vertical turbine. a gas engine, and ran shafts and pullies to a cutting machine and conveyor belt, as well as 19.BOX MILL aka a grindstone to sharpen the cutting machine Pinchin's Mill blades. Described as corn mill and malthouse in 15.CHAPPS MILL 1887, in 1864 it was A fulling mill until 1790, when Charles part of the Box Ward of Doncombe Mill took over Brewery owned by from the Drewett family, clothiers of Pinchins who, in that Colerne and Batheaston. Charles year, closed their ^ Ward and partner William Northgate Brewery at Duckett, converted the mill to Pulteney Bridge. paper, lin 1805, Charles Ward Bought from Spafax in was found guilty of producing 1987 by musician Peter unstamped paper and the sheriff Gabriel, it was confiscated all his goods. By converted into his 1818, the mill had been internationally famous converted to cloth and the paper Real World recording machinery was put up for sale. By studios. 1827 the mill was back to paper making, until it closed under W ) 20.CUTTINGS MILL Dowding in 1994. Nothing is known of this mill which was a The By Brook approaching the mill is mad- casualty of the Great Western Railway, ending made at a high level, and wider than the up under the embankment between natural brook, to provide a reservoir of water. Middlehill Tunnel and Box Station.

16.WEAVERN MILL No mill buildings remain adjacent to the now derelict Weavern Farm, only the sluice opening can be seen at the original location. The name Weavern is a corruption of Wavering, by which the meandering By Brook was known at this location. The Mill was originally a fulling mill. In 1728 it is described as a Corn Mill and in 1 793 as a paper mill. It ceased work in 1834.

17.WIDDENHAM MILL A fulling mill until 1662 then it lay derelict until the 18th century, when it returned to Top right: Derelict buildings at Weavem farm Middle right: Widdenham Mill Right: Drewett's Mill

7 21.SHOCKERWICK MILLS COMMUNITIES Two mills are included in a 1270 deed, and one in a 1275 deed, but nothing is known of CASTLE COMBE them, although a weir and sluice arrangement does exist today just south of the road bridge Originated on Castle Hill as a Roman to Shockerwick. fortification. The Saxons took over the site, and the Normans founded the village below 22.BATHFORD MILL aka Forde Mills, the castle in 11 35. By the middle of the 14th Carnage Mills, Trevarno Mill century, the original castle site was derelict, Mentioned in the Domesday Book, in the and stone had been removed from it to build 16th century this was a grist and fulling mill. the Manor House. At this time, Castle Combe In 1740, the then miller sent some water from was entering its golden era of cloth a newly discovered spring to Oxford where it production from local wool. More important was judged to contain than nearby Chippenham at this tim e, it minerals. The spring produced red and white cloth for London and was dubbed Bathford Bristol. With the introduction of Flemist Spaw', and the miller weavers came the Blanquet brothers who ran sold his estate to Dr a nap mill. Local lore has it that this was William Oliver, founder where the word blanket originated. of the Bath Oliver biscuit and the The cloth industry died early in Castle Combe Rheumatic hospital. Dr due to the unreliability of the By Brook. The Oliver named the mill village therefore stayed fossilised in time until Trevarno.In 1768, declared the prettiest village in England in James Yeeles, a skinner, 1962, since when it has become a regular converted the mill to a tourist attraction. leather mill. On his death, his sons converted it to paper making. In 1882 it suffered in that A major part of this attraction is the vertically year’s major flooding, whilst in 1884 a great banked By Brook running through the village. deal of it was destroyed by a boiler explosion. This was constructed as part of a flood Finally, it was completely rebuilt after another alleviation scheme following major damage in fire in 1910. In 1913, it changed from water a 1954 flood. power to steam power for 50 years. Since 1971, behind high security fencing, Portals The Brook, in the vicinity of Castle Combe has have produced high quality paper used by attracted film makers including 1967's Dr financial institutions in some European Dolittle, and HTV’s successful 1980's Robin countries. Hood series.

SLAUGHTERFORD

An old Roman settlement where King Alfred scored his final decisive victory over the Danes in 880. Despite this, the village's gory name actually comes from the sleight or watermeadow at the ford.

King Stephen granted the Manor and Tythe of Slaughterford to the monastery at Martingy, and it was later transferred to the Priory at Monkton Farleigh. At the dissolution of the monasteries, the parish was given to Sir Thomas Seymour.

Cromwell's soldiers en route from Chippenham to board ships at Bristol, bound for their infamous exploits in Ireland,

8 obviously considered that the church in Slaughterford did not conform to their puritanical ideals. They rased it to the ground and it remained a ruin until the present, much smaller, church was built in 1823. For 150 years, the residents tof Slaughterford had to {^flake the trek to .^BJddestone to worship. Here, they were not welcome and tolerated only if they entered the church through a separate back «oor, and occupied the worst seats after the good itizens of Biddestone were fII in place. Slaughterford was obviously an important “place, despite its small size, ^ s well as its mills, it had a significant brewery, a courthouse and a Friends Meeting House that was the centre for Quakers from a large area.

In 1907, the site of an extensive roman villa was excavated just north of the existing churchyard. The villa was built of Box stone, although the oldest mentioned settlements associated with stone quarries are Hazelbury and Oitteridge. The Domesday Book does not mention Box. In 1227, Box Mill and Church belonged to Monkton Farleigh Priory.

Stone outcrops at Hazelbury, Henley, Rudloe and Quarry Hill were Mill Stream at Box worked before extensive underground mines were developed. Quarry men Bottom left: The Church at Slaughterford and stone masons have Middle: Sluice at Box Mill

9 always been found in references to Box village adjacent to the River Avon half a mile towards life. The reputation of the stone was such Warleigh, from which Bath's roman museum that it was used up to 60 miles away for displays two stones. monastic buildings in 1252, whilst the opening of navigation on the River Avon from The Domesday Book mentions Forde as 1727 took the stone to London and other belonging to the priory at Bath. After the towns. Development of Romans, the road from Bath to London went the industry really took off through Bathford along what is now Ashley with the opening of the Lane. From here, the steepness of the road to Great Western Railway, Kingsdown was reported by Daniel Defoe in when the underground 1 724 as alarming Queen Anne when the mines included some 60 coach in which she was a passenger started to miles of narrow gauge run backwards. The climb from the Crown tracks between Box and Inn to what was New Inn, also required a Corsham. The industry fresh set of horses and with a new road to peaked in 1909 and closed Kingsdown in 1 759 (present day High Street), in 1970. the steepness of this first 250m was reduced.

Box's most famous feature is the nearly two Being built on the landslipped side of the Box mile long railway tunnel built for the Great valley, Bathford's wells and springs have Western Railway under the direction of always been unreliable due to the smallness of Isambard Kingdom Brunei. During the faulted limestone groundwater sources. construction, amongst frequent accidents that claimed 100 lives, several workers were As with Box, Bathford's village life was drowned when the underground source of influenced by the quarries in the hillside Corsham's Byde Mill Brook was broken into. where the Brown’s Folly nature reserve is Brunei diverted the water to the By Brook, situated. The term ashlar used for carefully boosting the base flow in that brook, but squared and smoothed stone is said to derive severely reducing that in the Corsham stream. from nearby Ashley. The stone was brought The 28 feet span by 20 feet high tunnel was to the extensive stone wharf on the south side opened on 30 June 1841. of High Street, east of Prospect Place. By 1887, a tramway had been constructed from Middle Hill, just downstream from Box, the quarries to the wharf, and down the boasted a medicinal well in 1686, which parish boundary to the Great Western Railway. became a spa in 1786. Largely thanks to This was replaced by an underground competition from its large neighbour, Bath, conveyor system when in 1936 the quarries the spa failed in 1814. On the brook at were converted to a vast, underground Middle Hill, a crump weir gauging station is ammunition dump, with railway sidings situated to gauge flows in the By Brook. The reopened until 1955. weir is designed to give a known unique relationship between water level and flow, and The building of the Great Western levels can be checked remotely through a Railway through Bathford brought about radio link to give low flow and flood flow 100 navvies to the village which must information. have overwhelmed the population. The floods of january 1841 swept away the temporary bridge being used for the BATHFORD railway construction which, in turn, destroyed St James’ Bridge in Bath. Situated at the junction of the roman roads Miraculously, frost had suspended work prior Fosse Way and Via Julia, Bathford had two to this and no-one was injured. Bathford's fords, one on the River Avon and one on the biggest flood occurred in 1894, when the By Brook immediately downstream from the road bridge over the By Brook was current roadbridge originally built in 1665. erroneously reported washed away because Two roman villas were discovered in the 1 7th the flood depth was such as to show no century, one south of the By Brook below the surface disturbance over the bridge. Bradford-on-Avon road, and the other also

10

Natural History The river is spring-fed and many of the clear springs gushing forth from secretive locations The By Brook and its deposit tufa, concretions of calcium carbonate tributaries support a which form on sticks, stones, shells and wealth of insects mosses in the bed of the spring. which provide food for fish and birds such HISTORY as heron, dipper and kingfisher. The grasslands and woodlands have developed over the centuries under the Many of the wildlife habitats present are influence of local people, who managed of national importance and have the woodlands by coppicing and been designated as Sites of thinning to produce timber for Special Scientific Interest or building and hazel hurdles for managed as nature reserves. fencing. The grasslands became vitally important throughout CEOMORPHOLOCY the middle ages for sheep grazing, which led to the The By Brook is one of the development of the best rivers in the Bristol woollen trade and cloth Avon Catchment for industries, providing wildlife, and the valley is employment for much of acknowledged as an the rural population of important area of high Wiltshire. biodiversity. The adjacent habitats of woodland, The historic occupation of scrub and meadow add the valley by man is still greatly to the landscape reflected in the plants which and wildlife, but the key lies occur here, from the in the immense variability of monkshood introduced by the the river and its tributaries. Romans as a powerful poison Within short distances the banks (aconite) and found in the vicinity change from soft earth cliffs to of the first mills; to the soapwort gently sloping shelves, or are formed by used by medieval millers for soaping rocks and tree roots. The course of the river cloth before it went under the stamps of the changes with every flood event, with active mill. Danewort still grows near Slaughterford, erosion and deposition processes evident on the dwarf elder of English legend which grew the many meanders. There are many ox bow spontaneously out of the blood of slaughtered lakes and islands, features which have been Danes; whilst dyers' greenwood is abundant lost on many lowland rivers. The flow varies near the mills of Long Dean. Used to give a from slow backwaters and deep pools to fast yellow or green dye, collecting it from the flowing shallow steep downlands was hard labour for the poor sections over countrywomen who had to pull it by the gravel substrates. roots. More recently introduced, the bright The plants, fish monkey flower has rampaged along and invertebrates streamsides throughout Britain. of the river vary according to WILDLIFE depth, flow and bank profile. Where the banks are shaded by mature trees (including alder, oak, willow and field maple) Top left: Kingfisher and lime-loving shrubs (such as spindle and Top right: Yellow Iris guelder rose), ferns, mosses and liverworts Middle: Purple Loosestrife Far right: Young Alder Treei Left: Dipper Right: Dragonfly

12 thrive. In more open Despite this wealth of natural riches, the area areas, the tall herbs are is suffering from the pressures placed on it by diverse and indude modern farming practices, increasing such attractive plants recreational use and neglect. Stone walls are as meadow rue, purple decaying and woodlands are no longer loosestrife, kingcups managed, whilst the fragile grasslands and and yellow iris. These their butterflies are being lost. attract butterflies and other insects whilst the The last otters were seen in the branched bur-reed of late 1970s; water voles, once so the margins provides abundant, are now extremely valuable shelter for scarce, perhaps as a result of moorhens and delicate predation by mink; and the damselflies. The freshwater crayfish which were characteristic plants of abundant when the river was the channel, water surveyed in 1987 have been starwort and water crowfoot, support an infected by a fungal plague abundance of invertebrates such as the mayfly which has almost eliminated which provide food for the wild brown trout, them from the lower reaches. so beloved of fishermen (and heron!), and for As a result, the Wiltshire Wildlife bullheads which are the favourite food of Trust has set up a Countryside Kingfishers. In the shallow aerated gravelly Management Project for the sections, caddis fly are abundant providing area and aims to encourage food for the dipper, the only British bird farmers and local people to which can walk beneath the water. The By conserve, restore and enhance Brook is a stronghold for this attractive river wildlife habitats and historic bird, and the grey wagtail. features. The Environment Agency hopes that, by habitat restoration, Badgers and deer rely on the river for clean sensitive river management and maintaining drinking water, whilst bats fly over the valley high quality water, some of these species will meadows at dusk, feeding on the copious be encouraged to return. supply of insects. A SUGGESTED WALK TAKING IN at Long Dean SOME OF THE HISTORIC MILL appear ahead. The footpath SITES joins the access track to the Distance 6km : 2-3 hours Lower Mill at its Ford - Long Dean - bridge over the Slaughterford Brook. This walk is a figure of Before turning left on this track to return to eight taking in 6 mill sites Ford, turn right and follow it below the and three villages on the cottages, bearing left to come to the entrance By Brook. gate to Upper Long Dean Mill. Continuation along this track would take you to Rack Hill Park in Ford (if you use and a view up the valley to Lower and Upper the White Hart's car park, Colham Mills. The track eventually reaches ask the landlord as Castle Combe 2.5km from Long Dean. sometimes he chains off the car park outside licensing hours). From the pub walk north Retracing your steps to the By Brook at Long east towards the A420, past Ford Mill on Dean continue south east, past the right immediately behind Lower Long Dean Mill on the pub. Turn right onto the left, rising up the pavement along through a path the A420. Past the sunken between turning to Castle walls. This Combe, carefully eventually cross the A420 passes through and keep on the a gate to a verge on the high field with left of the road, a view back walking east. After 400m you down the valley. 200km from the cross the By Brook gate leave the track and then come to a following the wall and stile into a field on the follow the contour path left. Climb over the stile and around to a stile into the Ford follow the path, via a bridge over a to Castle Combe road. Follow this road ditch, to a stile next to a gate to Fountain back down to the A420 and back into Ford, Wood. This path was the valley route for passing Ford Mill and the White Hart on the people from Long Dean to the A420 en route left (unless you wish to pause there for to Bristol and the hard surface of this path is refreshment). still visible in places. For the second leg of the figure eight, follow Follow the track parallel to the meandering the road for 300m towards Colerne and you Brook for a further 300 metres and after come to the gate of Doncombe Mill on the crossing the By Brook on a substantial bridge, right. Climb over the stile next to the gate on the Mill house of Lower Long Dean appears the opposite side of the road and follow this beyond a hedge on the left. The privy path parallel to the Doncombe Brook and straddling the millstream is all but hidden by then the By Brook to a footbridge at a weir. the hedge at the Cross the bridge and on the far side you can bottom of the garden. see the remains of the sluice that fed the now filled-in mill leat to the long gone Overshot Continue on the Wheel at what became the Slaughterford Rag track, crossing the Mill. Brook again before the weavers' cottages Top left: Weavers' cottages at Long Dean Top: Lower sluice above Slaughterford Rag Mill Middle: Upper sluice above Slaughterford Rag Mill Left: Automatic sluice gate at Slaughterford Right: Lower Mill House at Long Dean Keeping to the flat floodplain fields following the course of the Brook, pass through stiles in two field boundaries, until you come to the unmistakeable shape of the automatic sluice gate at the third boundary. Cross over the Brook on the bridge that forms part of this structure.

The gate was automated for safe operation in times of flood when the fields around can be under water. The grey cabinet houses electronics which allows Environment Agency engineers at Bridgwater, and at their homes, to see the state of the gate through a radio link.

Once on the other side of the Brook, follow its course downstream to a footbridge crossing the sluice that controlled the leat to the Undershot Wheel at Slaughterford Rag Mill.

Just after entering the woods on this path, watch out on the left for the overgrown remains of gate to the Slaughterford Rag Church. Co Mill including the through the gate rag boiler and the and follow the virtually intact water righthand wall of the wheel. Continuing on churchyard, where you can visit this path brings you through the church if you wish. The path continues a gate to the road at to the left of the farm Slaughterford. buildings to a stile. Over this stile, follow Before bearing left up into the village, follow the road to the north the road to the bridge and downstream can opposite. In J/4km this be seen the manmade channel feeding road takes you Chapps Mill, with the old course of the Brook through Common Hill clearly the lower part of the field. Plantation, then bears Returning to the village, take the high path to the left to return to above and to the right of the road up to the Ford. MANAGEMENT AND CONTACTS: The Environment Agency delivers a service to its customers, with the emphasis on authority and accountability at the most local level possible. It aims to be cost-effective and efficient and to offer the best service and value for money. Head Office is responsible for overall policy and relationships with national bodies including Government. Rivers House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS12 4UD. Tel: 0 1 45 4 624 400 Fax: 01454 624 40 9

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY REGIONAL OFFICES

ANGLIAN SOUTHERN Kingfisher House Guildboume House Goldhay Way Chatsworth Road Orton Goldhay Worthing Peterborough PE2 5ZR West Sussex BN 11 1LD Tel: 01733 371 811 Tel: 01903 8 32 000 Fax: 01733 231 840 Fax: 01903 821 832

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST Rivers House Manley House 21 Park Square South Kestrel Way Leeds LSI 2QG Exeter EX2 7LQ Tel: 0113 244 0191 Tel: 01392 444 000 Fax: 0113 246 1889 Fax: 01392 444 238

NORTH WEST THAMES Richard Fairclough House Kings Meadow House Knutsford Road Kings Meadow Road Warrington WA4 1HG Reading RC1 8DQ Tel: 01925 653 999 Tel: 0118 953 5000 Fax: 01925 415 961 Fax: 0118 950 0388

MIDLANDS WELSH Sapphire East Rivers House/Plas-yr-Afon 550 Streetsbrook Road St Mellons Business Park Solihull B91 1QT St Mellons Tel: 0121 711 2324 Cardiff CF3 0LT Fax: 0121 711 5824 Tel: 01222 77 ) Fax: 01222 79 I g h ^ n m en t Agency Information Centre

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY ENVIRONMENT AGENCY GENERAL ENQUIRY LINE 0645 333 111 127151 The 24-hour emergency hotline number for reporting all environmental incidents relating to air, land and water. ENVIRONMENT AGENCY EMERGENCY HOTLINE En v ir o n m e n t Ag e n c y 0800 80 70 60